How Do Construction Workers Use Math?
Construction workers must use math in a variety of ways while practicing their trade, including taking measurements, converting quantities and solving equations. While it is not necessary for construction workers to have an advanced education, they must be comfortable with basic mathematics and capable of performing several simple operations. Construction workers must be able to add, subtract, divide and multiply as well as work with fractions.
Taking accurate measurements is a mathematical skill, and it is crucial that construction workers are able to do so. Additionally, construction workers must be able to convert between various units of measure, which requires the use of equations. For example, if a construction worker must convert millimeters to inches, he must divide the number of millimeters by 25.4 to obtain its equivalent number of inches.
Construction workers must also use ratios frequently. For example, when figuring out the proportions of the roof’s length to its height, a construction worker must be able to divide the length by the height to obtain the correct ratio.
Some construction workers must also understand the principles of geometry. For example, it is often important to know the length of a triangle’s hypotenuse in cases where it is difficult to measure. But by using the Pythagorean theorem, the construction worker can deduce the length of the hypotenuse by measuring the other sides of the triangle.
